1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Are these contradictory verses? No because it is not what is in us, it is what we choose to do that matters.

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

We are flesh and there is nothing we can do about that except to set our minds on things of the Spirit. To do that we must first have the Spirit of Truth in us.

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

How do the lost receive the Holy Spirit?

John 14:15-16  English Standard Version

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,”

How can we show Jesus that we love Him if we do not know what it means to “keep” His commandments?

Deuteronomy 6:6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.

From the very beginning God has told us it is not head knowledge that counts, it is heart knowledge.

Psalm 27:8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

Matthew 15:8 This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.